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necessary uncertainty respecting the identity of certain physical objects, nor, if we could clear up every such difficulty, would our faith receive any addition of strength. Still, however, it is a rational and an interesting object of critical inquiry, and has accordingly engaged many learned and devout pens; and no man who loves and values the Scriptures will think little of the minutest elucidation which render them more striking or intelligible.

Before we quit Mr. Carpenter's instructive and entertaining publication, we must not forget, lest we should not chance to have an opportunity regularly to review them, to thank him for two other more re

cent works, his "Popular Lectures on Biblical Criticism," and his "Guide to the practical Reading of the Bible;" both of them containing much interesting and valuable matter, adapted to the use of those Christians who wish to gain an intelligent view of the science of biblical interpretation without being able to study numerous volumes of scriptural philology and textual history, and many of them in foreign languages. We rejoice to witness the increased attention paid to the critical as well as devotional study of the word of God. May the seed thus sown produce an abundant harvest to his glory!

LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Piety without Asceticism; or the Protestant Kempis, selected from Scougal, How, and Cudworth. By the Bishop of Limerick. 12s.

The Book of the Prophet Isaiah, translated from the Hebrew. By the Rev. A. Jenour. 2 vols. 11. 4s.

The Succession of Sacred Literature. By the Rev. A. Clarke, D.D. and the Rev. J. B. Clarke. Vol. I. 12s.

Sermons preached at the Temple Church. By the Rev. A. Irvine. 8s. 6d. The Extent of Scriptural Inspiration. By the Rev. C. H. Terrot.

The Duty of Prompt and Complete Abolition of Colonial Slavery; a Sermon. By the Rev. S. C. Wilks. 1s.

A Manual of Prayers for every Day in the Week. By the Rev. J. Topham. "Patience in Tribulation,' a Short Memoir of E. E. 3s. 6d.

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A Letter to T. Erskine, on the WestCountry Miracles. By the Rev. E. Craig.

The "Christian's Appeal;" or Rules of Faith and Practice, selected from the Holy Scriptures. 2s. 6d.

The National Library, No. II. containing the History of the Bible. Vol. I. By the Rev. G. R. Gleig.

Historical Atlas, containing Maps of the World, at Twenty-one Different Periods, with a View of Universal History. By E. Quin. 31. 10s.

Á Defence of the Surinam Negro-English Testament. By W. Greenfield. 2s.

The Family Library, No. XVI. Demonology and Witchcraft. By Sir W. Scott. 5s.

The Edinburgh Cabinet Library, No. I. By Professors Leslie, Jameson, and H. Murray. 5s.

Memoir of the Rev. E. Payson, D.D. 6s. "The Negro Slave;" a Tale.

"Short Narratives from real Life." 2s. 6d.

The Pleasures of Benevolence. 4s. 6d.

LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE,

&c. &c.

GREAT BRITAIN. THERE has been published an abstract of the number of curates in each diocese, returned by the archbishops and bishops to the privy council, for the year 1827;

distinguishing the number resident in the parish; likewise the number of those who are licensed, and the number of those who possess stipends, arranged in different classes of 10. and under 201; 201. and

under 30%.; 30%. and under 401., &c.; also the gross value of livings where the incumbents are non-resident, from which we collect the following facts :-The curates employed in the several dioceses are -in St. Asaph, 30; Bangor, 58; Bath and Wells, 190; Bristol, 103; Canterbury, 135; Carlisle, 44; Chester, 158; Chichester, 110; St. David's, 194; Dur. ham, 78: Ely, 71; Exeter, 256; Gloucester, 128; Hereford, 153; Landaff, 94; Lichfield and Coventry, 268; Lincoln, 550; London, 231; Norwich, 473; Oxford, 69; Peterborough, 116; Rochester, 47; Salisbury, 174; Winchester, 177; Worcester, 83; York, 261: Total, 4,254. Of this number, 1,393 reside in the glebehouse, and 805 in the parish. 3,600 are licensed curates. The following is a statement of their stipends: Six curates receive under 201.; 59 under 301.; 173 under 40%.; 441 under 50l.; 892 under 601.; 300 under 70%.; 415 under 801.; 458 under 907.; 156 under 1007.; 500 under 1104; 69 under 1201; 207 under 1301.; 52 under 1401.; 32 under 1507.; 162 under 1607.; 26 under 1707.; 15 under 1807.; 5 under 1907.; 3 under 2001.; 17 under 210.; 2 under 2201.; 2 under 2301.; 2 under 2407.; 3 under 250l. ; 4 under 2601.; 1 under 2901.; 2 under 310.; 1 under 320.; and 1 under 3401. There are 43 who receive the whole income of the benefices they serve. Two receive one half of the income, and one is paid two guineas each Sunday. With respect to the gross value of livings where the incumbents are non-resident, it is stated that there are 2,496 under 3007, and 1,223 of the value of 300%. and upwards.

A manuscript of a version of the Old and New Testament in the Georgian language, was discovered in the year 1817, in the Georgian monastery at Mount Athos. It is alleged to be the autograph of Euphemius, who lived in the eighth century; but whether this can be proved or not it may afford valuable matter for collation, and possibly readings of critical importance. Can any of our biblical correspondents inform us whether any efforts have been made to ascertain its peculiarities? Has Scholz examined it for his elaborate forthcoming work?

Mr. Houlton, in lecturing before the Medico-botanical Society, states as a proof of the tenacity of vegetable life, that a bulbous root concealed probably for 2000 years in an Egyptian mummy germinated on exposure to the atmosphere, and grew in the ground with vigour,

Sir James Mackintosh, in his History of

England, in Dr. Lardner's Cyclopædia, gives the following interesting account of the nautical genius of the British Islanders." The British islands are naturally destined to be the seat of maritime power. Their coasts are much more extensive, compared with their inland territory, than those of any other great and civilised nation. Their position on the globe, reaching almost to the northern verge of that portion where the whole sea is open to navigation throughout the year, is better fitted than any other to render their numerous mariners hardy, daring, and skilful. Had it been more southerly, these qualities would have been incompletely exercised; had it been farther north, some part of the year, which now serves to train their seafaring inhabitants, would have been lost to that purpose. Their soil and climate neither withdrew their pursuit from the resources of the sea, nor refused the produce which might be exchanged by navigation for the produce of other countries. Their advanced position, as it was in front of Europe, favoured that disposition towards adventurous voyages and colonial establishments, in which, after a fortunate exclusion from the neighbouring continent, the genius and ambition of the people were vented, with lasting, grand, and happy consequences to mankind. pular government gives dignity to commerce it promotes navigation, one of the occupations of the lower and middle classes, and it is disposed to encourage the only species of military force which cannot be made the instrument of its overthrow. It is not unreasonable to add, that the settlement of so many pirates in England, the natives of every country from the Elbe, perhaps from the Rhine, to the North Cape, between the sixth and tenth centuries, may have contributed to cultivate those nautical propensities, which form a part of the English character."

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We quote from the same work the following curious passage on the alleged miracles of the middle ages; though we think the learned author's remarks open to considerable exception. He too much palliates the lying miracles of the Church of Rome; and not fairly assumes that our own church, for example, still claims the power of working miracles." Augustine cured a blind man, but without the immediate removal of obstinate prejudice. Many such miracles, however, are related, to which happier consequences are ascribed; nor ought the veracity of the narrators to be un

distinguishingly asssailed, when a belief in miraculous powers was universal. A man of good understanding might easily ascribe to his own prayers, or still more to those whom he valued more than himself, those recoveries which immediately followed them. As the miraculous facts are seldom related by professed eye-witnesses, the progress of insensible exaggeration accounts for many of those narratives, without either assenting to the miracle, or disputing the honesty of the historian. A just conviction of the excellence of the cause in which they were engaged, disposed them more readily to believe that Providence interposed in its favour. One of the greatest men of the eighteenth century has intimated his opinion, that such interposition might have actually occurred.-Whoever ascribes the order of nature to a Supreme Mind must indeed believe it to be possible for that Mind to suspend and alter the course of events. But there is probably no miracle of the middle age which requires any other confutation than a sim

ple statement of the imperfection and inadequacy of the testimony produced in its support. No form of Christianity was likely not to have sanctioned a doctrine so agreeable to the general feelings of a zealous and ignorant age as the continuance of miraculous powers. It does not seem to have any connexion with the properly theological dogmas of the Church of Rome. Many Protestants were, some perhaps still are, favourable to it. Probably no Protestant establishment has expressly renounced it. It was the peculiar misfortune of the Roman-Catholic church, that, however disposed some of its most distinguished members might have been to suffer such claims to slumber, and gradually to die out, their precise and rigid definitions of the infallibility of the church, have placed the character of their religion too much at the mercy of every ignorant, credulous, or fraudulent Catholic, who may persuade himself, or others, that he possesses those powers, which the universal church cannot strongly condemn, without assailing its own infallibility."

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

LONDON EPISCOPAL FLOATING

CHURCH SOCIETY.

We regret to learn that the funds of this valuable institution are inadequate to allow of the committee's affording the necessary support to the Chaplain to the Church-ship. The clergyman now appointed, Mr. Davis, has however offered himself for this work of Christian mercy among our seamen ; and we trust that the liberality of the friends of Religion, will not suffer so excellent a design to languish for want of due support. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the president, and the Bishops of London, Winchester, and Lichfield and Coventry, are vice-presidents of the Society, and give it their pecuniary assistance.

RELIGIOUS PERSECUTIONS IN

SWITZERLAND.

The pastors of the Cantons of Berne and De Vaud have received from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America, an earnest and affectionate remonstrance on the religious persecutions which have taken place in these cantons, entreating the pastors to intercede for those conscientious men who have sepaCHRIST. OBSERV. No. 346.

rated from their communion, with a view to procure for them full liberty of conscience and public worship. We trust that this powerful fraternal address will not be without good effect.

PARIS BIBLE SOCIETY. A new impulse has been given to the French Bible Society. Two anonymous friends some time since gave 2500 francs to be employed in circulating the Scriptures within one year gratuitously, or by cheap sale, among all the families in one department who were willing to receive them. Mr. Daniel Wilson, who happened to be in Paris at the last anniversary, and Mr. Wilks of Paris, gave 500 francs to assist a similar plan in two other departments. It was hoped that the spirit would spread till all the Protestant families in France are supplied. Mr. Wilson's address at the anniversary of the society is stated to have greatly animated and interested the meeting. He commenced in French, but soon impatient of the trammels of a foreign tongue, he gave vent to the abundance of his feelings and sentiments in his own language; M. Guizot translating his remarks with great elegance and correct40

ness. "It was joyful," say the Archives du Christianisme, "to see M. Guizot's brilliant talents devoted to so good a cause, and employed in the service of him who bestowed them. The whole of this novel and unpremeditated scene was remarkably striking and affecting."

We had written the above some months since, but wanted space to insert it. Since we penned it, a new order of affairs has arisen in France which it is hoped will give a still livelier impulse to these auspicious openings for the circulation of the word of God. Our Protestant friends are putting forth their energies with zeal; and great numbers of persons who have hitherto professed the Roman-Catholic faith, or no faith at all, are crowding to the Protestant chapels to hear for themselves the doctrines of the Bible, as professed by the Reformed church. Popery is almost every where unpopular; and upon the efforts which shall now be made by the friends of Protestantism to promote religious education, scriptural preaching, and the knowledge and perusal of the word of God, may probably depend, under Divine Providence, whether France shall become a nation of avowed infidels, or Protestant Christians.

FRENCH MISSIONS IN AFRICA.

The last Report of the Paris Society for Evangelical Missions states, that the society is augmenting its resources at home, and enlarging its efforts abroad. The account of the society's missions in South Africa mentions the following interesting circumstances respecting the arrival of the missionaries at the Cape of Good Hope, and their temporary sojourn among the descendants of a party of refugees ex

pelled from France by the revocation of the edict of Nantz.

"Who think you," said one of the speakers at the last anniversary, “hailed their disembarkation on the coast of Africa? Pagans? Strangers? No: they found themselves in the arms of their beloved countrymen. Yes; at this very moment there exist in Africa the descendants of those persecuted but faithful men, who, towards the close of the seventeenth century, under the reign of a prince brilliant with glory, but not the glory of charity, were forced to abandon their country to escape the sword of their persecuting countrymen. For a century and a half these venerable exiles had lost all communication with the mother country; even their fellow-Protestants had well nigh forgotten them: few voyagers took the trouble to make us acquainted with them; Kolbe is full of improbabilities, Sparmann only botanized, and Le Vaillant studied nothing but the natural history of animals. Travellers thus occupied could not satisfy the demands which the heart of a French Protestant would make respecting those our brethren. They drop only a few words about them; but not enough to satisfy those who wish to hear of their life and their faith. It was reserved for our missionaries, after a century and a half, to renew those bonds of country and of faith which time and absence could not break."

The missionaries, after remaining a short time in this interesting colony, proceeded to their destination among the Hottentots and Caffres in the interior. We shall be glad to learn and to communicate some particulars respecting the history and circumstances of this Protestant refugee settlement.

VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

We endeavoured in our last Number to take a brief retrospective view of the state of Continental Europe since the peace, in order to shew the actual relations and tendencies of its somewhat discordant parts. Our space not having allowed of our adding to this sketch our usual digest of passing events, we shall now state a few of the leading notices of the last as well as the present month.

The affairs of France have advanced as happily as any person who considers the peculiar difficulties of the case could have

reasonably expected. Those who looked for every passing day to exhibit scenes of wild extravagance, and rash, ill-digested measures, have been disappointed. Abroad, the government have proceeded calmly in establishing their foreign relations with the nations of Europe, none of which seem to intend to dispute the validity of the late changes; while at home, they have been actively employed in arranging the internal administration of the country; the difficulties of which have been very great, vast numbers of public agents having been set

aside as hostile to the new constitution, and others appointed in their room. Abroad, the independence of the States of South America is to be acknowledged; and very important plans are under consideration for the benefit of the Black and Coloured population of the French slave-colonies. One of these measures our readers will find referred to in the Anti-slavery Reporter appended to our present Number; and from the wellknown sentiments of the leading members of the cabinet, we cannot but hope the case of the slave as well as the coloured free people, will be satisfactorily adjusted.

A measure is also before the chambers, for extending trial by jury to offences of the press, which is to be followed by various other bills for the internal improvement of the country in all its departments.

Arrangements are in progress for the trial of the ex-ministers; four of whom, Polignac, Peyronnet, Chantelauze, and G. de Ranville, were apprehended, and are in prison. The charge against them is treason, in having annulled the elections, changed the institutions of the kingdom, plotted against the external safety of the state, and excited civil war. The public feeling is strongly excited against them; and at least one victim, Polignac, is unrelentingly asked for by the populace and the democratical clubs, to satisfy them for the loss of lives which resulted from their illegal and insensate measures. The king, the ministry, and many of the leading members of the deputies, strongly oppose this infliction of revengeful cruelty, which spirit of moderation has gained them no slight unpopularity; but we earnestly trust, even yet, that, in case of these unhappy statesmen being found guilty, means will be found to avert the penalty of death. To send them to the scaffold would be an act of gratuitous barbarity, an act highly impolitic, as regards the feelings of other countries, and which might lead to future scenes of terror and bloodshed. The great mass of the better disposed part of the nation cannot surely wish for more than confiscation and banishment; and it is hoped that the postponement of the trials may afford time for passion to subside, and admit of the impartial exercise of justice tempered with mercy. We lament, however, to say, that the proposition for the general abolition of the punishment of death is obliged to be deferred in consequence of the popular excitement upon this subject, notwithstanding the king himself, as well as his cabinet, and some of those statesmen who are most in the confidence of the people, are in favour of it. It is stated, that some of the loudest clamourers for revenge, and some of the noisiest declaimers for a new and republican revolution, are disguised political incendiaries, whose object is, by causing tumults, and stimulating the people to vio

lence, to prepare the way for the return of the old system.

Hitherto, then, we think the new government may fairly claim the approbation of their countrymen and of Europe. Their conduct has frustrated the wishes of the ultras of all parties; they have steadily refused to fraternize with the insurgents of other countries; while at home they have opposed the anti-social projects of misrule and democracy, silenced anarchical clubs, and checked the tumultuous proceedings of misguided bodies of workmen, who know so little even of their own interests as to wish for the suppression of machinery. They were pestered at first with a few congratulatory visits and addresses from some of the radicals of our own land; to whom, however, they gave polite and quiet answers, and there the matter ended. They have, in short, done nothing that could give offence to any other country; and we trust they may succeed in quieting the fermenting elements that disturb their own. For much remains to be done to cement the public tranquillity, especially as the new institutions allow of the most free expression of opinion, of which the discontented of all classes have not failed to take occasion to excite animosities. The chief alarm is from republicans and anarchists, either real, or assuming that character to promote other objects. There have also been rumours of divisions in the cabinet; the moderate counsels, it is said, of M. Molé, Guizot, and the Duke de Broglie, not being pleasing to the more democratical spirit of some of their colleagues: but these, if they existed, have not been allowed to separate them, and critical indeed would be a separation at the present juncture. Hitherto, we discern nothing of political danger, or even of popular disapprobation, beyond what was naturally to be expected after the first enthusiasm of the revolution had subsided, and private and party interests began to come into play. Our most painful feeling for France, and truly painful it is, arises from the melancholy fact that true Christianity seems almost extinct throughout the land. This, however, is not imputable to the new government; for we presume there is quite as much real belief in Christianity now as there was three months ago; and the present unpopularity of the hollow hypocritical mummery of Popery is to our minds more favourable to the ultimate progress of true religion than its late ascendency. Nor is it quite sober to select France, as some among us are doing, as the mark for all the thunderbolts of Heaven, as if no other people in the world were irreligious and infidel; or as if the new king of the French, and his ministers, had suddenly transformed a nation of sincere Christians into heathens. The evil, we grieve to say, lies deeper; and the lamentable absence of religion in the public proceed

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